Animal Haven breaks ground on new Hart County shelter

HART COUNTY, Ky. (WNKY) — Shovels hit the ground Thursday as community members, veterans and animal advocates celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Animal Haven of Hart County, a privately funded, state-of-the-art shelter that organizers say will transform the way animals are cared for across the county.

“Well, today we’re breaking ground for the new Animal Haven of Hart County, a privately subsidized 100-dog facility that’s state of the art that will transform the way animals are cared for here in Hart County,” said Steve Thompson, one of the founding members of the new organization. “We’re taking it from a municipal footprint to a private footprint. It’ll be supported by all the animal advocates and the folks here in Hart County.”

The nonprofit shelter will replace the county’s current system, which relies on facilities never designed to house animals long-term. Thompson said the county has “a capacity of only 28 kennels, yet we had a high point this summer of 86 dogs in one month.”

The new shelter, built on five acres of land donated by the Hart County Veterans Committee, is intended to ease that burden. The project’s funding will come entirely from private donors, animal advocacy groups, and supporters in the music communities of Nashville and Kentucky.

“It is a privately subsidized process. Hart County residents are not paying any tax dollars to build this,” Thompson said. “They’re also advocates of what we’re doing here.”

John Ready, interim president of the Hart County Veterans Committee, said his organization was eager to help bring the project to life.

“A partnership between the veterans and the community, to help the Animal Haven get a spot for this project,” Ready said. “It provides the opportunity that we’re not outsourcing assets and materials to other communities. It gives us an opportunity as a community to bring the dogs in, care for them properly and make sure they get adopted.”

Anthony Roberts, director of the Hart County Animal Shelter, said the new facility will serve as a countywide effort to better care for animals and expand services.

“We’re going to work with the veterans, the county, both cities. It’s kind of a ‘let’s bring the whole county together’ project,” he said.

Roberts added that plans are already in place for future growth.

“Once we’re under roof, we’ve got plans later to expand to having travel vets coming in once or twice a month to do spay and neutering,” he said. “We just want to get the building built, get these dogs taken care of properly.”

Members of the Hart County Youth Corps, who volunteer at the current shelter, said the new facility will make a world of difference.

Madison Dennis, a youth volunteer, said, “It’s kind of cramped where we are right now, especially for some of our bigger dogs. To have this big area here where all these dogs can be together and still have as much room as they will is going to be very good for them.”

Construction is hoped to take about 18 months, with hopes that the new shelter will open its doors by early 2027.

To donate to the Animal Haven in their efforts to construct the new facility, click here.